Police had to trap a speeding driver with three cars after a 15-mile chase during which he continued to drive even after they burst two of his tyres.

Jamie Lawry, 26, drove his Citroen Saxo erratically between Bridgend and Church Village on September 15, a court heard.

A police officer signalled for Lawry to stop after seeing him speeding along Coity Road in Bridgend.

Lawry did not stop and instead performed a U-turn turning towards Bridgend town centre.

He then drove through red lights at speed and, as he reached Cowbridge Road, was driving double the 40mph speed limit.

When he approached the roundabout near the police headquarters he failed to slow down and took the Llantrisant junction at 50mph.

The officer described his driving on the A473 as “erratic” and said he reached speeds of 80mph during the 20-minute chase.

The first officer had called for back-up while further units, including the force helicopter, had been deployed.

Lawry, from Gwendoline Street in Treherbert, still continued to speed away from police and even drove on the wrong side of the road.

The officer said it was lucky the roads were quiet and there were few other drivers around.

Officers put stingers on the road, which burst at least two of the car’s tyres, but he continued at 40mph despite the car’s handling and control obviously being affected.

They then moved their cars to surround the Saxo with one car in front and one either side.

Even then Lawry refused to slow down, prosecuting barrister Byron Broadstock said.

The car swerved to the right, colliding with the front of one police car and the rear of another. Both were damaged.

Finally the car came to a halt.

Tracey Lloyd-Nesling, for Lawry, told Cardiff Crown Court: “He has something of a background in offending, particularly a heavy use of cannabis. That was not connected to this case.

“The roads were relatively clear. Although the driving can properly be categorised as dangerous and prolonged and involving a police chase it was on almost empty roads.”

Lawry has a number of previous convictions. He had admitted dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and no valid test certificate as well as possessing cannabis.

Lawry was in tears as he was sentenced.

Recorder Elwen Evans said it was a “serious piece of protracted driving”.

“It’s more by luck than judgement that no-one was seriously injured or worse.

“You disregarded the safety of other road, the safety of your passenger and, even when police took steps to stop you, by deploying a stinger, you carried on.

“There can be no alternative to immediate custody.”

She jailed him for 12 months.